Microstructured multibeam element backlighting

A multiview display comprising:

• an array of multiview pixels configured to provide a plurality of different views of the multiview display, a multiview pixel comprising a plurality of light valves configured to modulate a plurality of directional light beams having different principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of the different views;
• a light guide configured to guide light;
• and
• an array of microstructured multibeam elements external to a surface of the light guide, a microstructured multibeam element of the array comprising a microstructure configured to receive a portion of the guided light and having an interior surface configured to reflect the received portion as the plurality of directional light beams,
• wherein a microstructured multibeam element size is comparable to a size of a light valve.

A method of multiview display operation, the method comprising:

• guiding light along a length of a light guide;
• coupling out a portion of the guided light from the light guide using a plurality of microstructured multibeam elements located external to and optically connected to the light guide, the guided light portion being emitted by a microstructured multibeam element of the plurality of microstructured multibeam elements as a plurality of directional light beams having different principal angular directions corresponding to view directions of different views of a multiview display;
• and
• modulating directional light beams of the plurality of directional light beams using a plurality of light valves configured as a multiview pixel of the multiview display,
• wherein the microstructured multibeam element comprises a microstructure that receives the guided light portion and having an interior surface that reflects the received guided light portion as the plurality of directional light beams.